While it may turn off some people who were fans of his earlier, acoustic work, it also shows that he has the chops to do a full-fledged rock album.

The album is a bit hit-or-miss, fortunately more of the former than the latter.

Nearly everything is fair game with the group, and that's what makes this release one of their better ones.

The disc as a whole has sort of an austere quality that lets some of the fun out of the sails.

Sure, they make use of their obviously higher budget and Source Tags And Codes sounds more rich and layered because of it, but like Modest Mouse with The Moon And Antarctica, they've used these new elements to accent their music, not destroy it.

People wishing the group would change up their style a little more might find themselves a bit disappointed, but everyone else should be happy to know that they've again put forth a very solid effort, and one of the best electronic releases yet this year.

Fans of Macha might find the release lacking a bit in the percussion area, but The Ride makes up for it some with atmosphere.

Point is playful and fun, and although it sometimes sounds like different tracks are constructed exactly the same as others, just with different instruments, it also makes for a much more cohesive release than his debut.

Everything feels a slight bit too polished, but that's not a huge fault.

Insignificance is the release that finds him hitting his stride completely, seemingly mixing little bits of all the different styles that he's poked around with and boiling it all down into a cohesive little release.

It's definitely a great step for the group.

It obviously has its high points and moments that drift a little more, but The Avalanches are definitely onto something with the release.

[Tamborello is] one of the better American electronic artists in the game right now.

Over the course of 11 tracks, it rarely rocks out at all, but instead moves through different styles with a more assured hand.

While there are a couple of tracks that are completely amazing, the album as a whole could have used a little better sequencing to make it more tight.

You could take this release and pair it up with Boards Of Canada's In A Beautiful Place Out In The Country for a back-to-back hit of sunny, frolic-in-a-sunny-field goodness.

While Happiness never gets up and rocks, it's solid from beginning to end.

It's one of those releases that reminds you that with all the experimenting and genre-blurring, there is still something simple and nice about an album that takes fairly base elements of rock and roll and creates a disc that's highly catchy.

If there's one question to be raised with the album, it's that it's all simply so lush and nice that on some levels it fails to excite.

The group shows that their goofy sides can peacefully coexist with their harmonious, pop-song writing ones.

For most other groups, it would be a winner, but for Built To Spill it's a slight comedown from their stellar streak.

It's at its best when it puts Albarn in situations that you wouldn't normally hear him in, but also stumbles occassionally with a couple tracks that feel rather tossed-off and others that feel like they could have come off a Blur b-side.

Again shows that Eitzel is a total gem of a singer/songwriter.

It's kind of a mess in places.

It's a solid return to form.

It's a psychadelic haze of an album with layers upon layers of sound, many tracks so dense that lead singer Isobel Sollenberger just becomes another element.

In terms of sheer weight alone, the album can almost be a bit crushing. With 12 songs that run nearly 70 minutes of time, Cave takes his time getting there, but you really don't mind.

If you like well-constructed pop/rock music with female vocals, it's definitely worth a look.

This is one concept album that doesn't forsake listenability for pure experimentation.

Probably now their most accessible album, as they change things up a lot more than they have with past releases, implementing different sounds in nearly every track.

Low continues to create beautiful music.

In some ways, the 4 song EP is actually some of the most stripped-down work by the group, but it's also quite essential.

Whether they're toying with different sounds that have been explored by other groups or pulling out the stops on tracks like "Air Methods," they've still managed to create an interesting batch of tracks.

Although a couple tracks towards the end don't work quite as well, it doesn't detract from the album as a whole very much.

Quite possibly their best album.

An excellent release, albeit a bit short.

Not only has the group taken their sound and refined it even more, but even the ambient soundscapes and parts between the actual songs are more well constructed.

Although it's a huge departure for those expecting more of the same from Holmes, it's easily the most sonically interesting release by him thus far.

There is just enough of a changeup in the sounds of the songs (from a variety of releases) that makes the disc worth having if you enjoy the group.

However slight it is, there's a measured optimism in some of the lyrics on the release that make the weight of things just a little easier to bear.

This is by far their most polished and clean sounding album to date, as well as one that doesn't have the sort of immediately catchy tracks like on previous releases.

While not every single thing they try works, it's still a very enjoyable listen.

The simplicity of it all (only one instrument and vocals) highlights her vocals even more and even when the disc closes out with the more upbeat "Sea Of Love," you'll still feel a bit of melancholy hovering over.

The Contino Sessions is definitely a step in the right direction for the group in terms of continuity and development of their sound, but their are still a few hiccups that they need to work out.

He jumps styles of music effortlessly, all the while managing to pull things together with touching and inventive lyrics.... One of the best releases of the year.

A very good slice of experimental pop.

It's a fun, varied excursion.

If you're a fan of the old Blur material, this disc may not be your thing.

If you like the group's other work, you'll definitely want to pick this up, even though it may take awhile to grow on you. Just don't expect a revolution.